OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Yangxue Qingnao Pills (YXQNP) combined with amlodipine in treating patients with grade 1 hypertension. METHODS: This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Adult patients with grade 1 hypertension of blood deficiency and Gan (Liver)-yang hyperactivity syndrome were randomly divided into the treatment or the control groups at a 1:1 ratio. The treatment group received YXQNP and amlodipine besylate, while the control group received YXQNP's placebo and amlodipine besylate. The treatment duration lasted for 180 days. Outcomes assessed included changes in blood pressure, Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome scores, symptoms and target organ functions before and after treatment in both groups. Additionally, adverse events, such as nausea, vomiting, rash, itching, and diarrhea, were recorded in both groups. RESULTS: A total of 662 subjects were enrolled, of whom 608 (91.8%) completed the trial (306 in the treatment and 302 in the control groups). After 180 days of treatment, the standard deviations and coefficients of variation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were lower in the treatment group compared with the control group. The improvement rates of dizziness, headache, insomnia, and waist soreness were significantly higher in the treatment group compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 30 days of treatment, the overall therapeutic effects on CM clinical syndromes were significantly increased in the treatment group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 180 days of treatment, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, ankle brachial index and albumin-to-creatinine ratio were improved in both groups, with no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). No serious treatment-related adverse events occurred during the study period. CONCLUSIONS Combination therapy of YXQNP with amlodipine significantly improved symptoms such as dizziness and headache, reduced blood pressure variability, and showed a trend toward lowering urinary microalbumin in hypertensive patients. These findings suggest that this regimen has good clinical efficacy and safety. (Registration No. ChiCTR1900022470).
Humans ; Amlodipine/adverse effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Hypertension/complications* ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Adult ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Double-Blind Method ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents/adverse effects*

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of overexpressing 70-kD heat shock pro-teins(Hsp70)on glycolysis in C2C12 cells during myogenesis and adipogenesis.Using C2C12 cells as the research material,adenovirus was used to overexpress the Hsp70 gene,and changes in the expression of glycolytic genes were detected using fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blotting techniques.The study indicated that during C2C12 cell myogenic differentiation,the expression trend of the Hsp70 gene was consistent with that of Gsk3β,Pkm,Prkag3,Pfkm,and Hk-2 genes,suggesting a relationship between Hsp70 and the glycolytic pathway during myogenic differentiation.Overexpression of Hsp70 in the later stages of myogenic differentiation significantly upregulated the expression of Gsk3β,Pkm,Prk-ag3,and Pfkm genes(P＜0.05),with no significant impact on Hk-2 gene expression(P＞0.05).Dur-ing C2C12 cell adipogenic induction,the expression trend of the Hsp70 gene was similar to that of Gsk3β,Pkm,Prkag3,Pfkm,and Hk-2 genes,indicating a relationship between Hsp70 and the glycolytic path-way during adipogenic induction.Following Hsp70 overexpression,in the later stages of adipogenic in-duction,the number of lipid droplets was significantly higher compared to the control group,with a sig-nificant upregulation of Gsk3β,Pkm,Prkag3,and Pfkm gene expression(P＜0.05),while Hk-2 gene expression was not significantly affected(P＞0.05).In conclusion,Hsp70 in C2C12 cells in myogenic and adipogenic states promoted the breakdown of glycogen into 6-phospho-glucose,thereby enhancing the glycolytic pathway,providing insights into the functional role of the Hsp70 gene in glycolysis in C2C12 cells.

There has been a long history since human beings began to realize the existence of post-traumatic symptoms. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a diagnostic category adopted in 1980 in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Ⅲ, described typical clusters of psychiatric symptoms occurring after traumatic events. Abundant researches have helped deepen the understanding of PTSD in terms of epidemiological features, biological mechanisms, and treatment options. The prevalence of PTSD in general population ranged from 6.4% to 7.8% and was significantly higher among groups who underwent major public traumatic events. There has been a long way in the studies of animal models and genetic characteristics of PTSD. However, the high comorbidity with other stress-related psychiatric disorders and complexity in the pathogenesis of PTSD hindered the effort to find specific biological targets for PTSD. Neuroimage was widely used to elucidate the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of PTSD. Functional MRI studies have showed that PTSD was linked to medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and sub-cortical structures like amygdala and hippocampus, and to explore the functional connectivity among these brain areas which might reveal the possible neurobiological mechanism related to PTSD symptoms. For now, cognitive behavior therapy-based psychotherapy, including combination with adjunctive medication, showed evident treatment effects on PTSD. The emergence of more effective PTSD pharmacotherapies awaits novel biomarkers from further fundamental research. Several natural disasters and emergencies have inevitably increased the possibility of suffering from PTSD in the last two decades, making it critical to strengthen PTSD research in China. To boost PTSD study in China, the following suggestions might be helpful: (1) establishing a national psychological trauma recover project, and (2) exploring the mechanisms of PTSD with joint effort and strengthening the indigenized treatment of PTSD.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between preoperative plasma interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), homocysteine (Hcy), endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels and new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: In the study, 148 patients who underwent isolated CABG in Peking University People's Hospital from January 1, 2017 to December 30, 2017 were enrolled, of whom 39 had new-onset AF. The fasting venous blood was collected within 24 hours before the surgery. The preoperative plasma IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, Hcy, ET-1 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The patients were divided into AF group and non-AF group according to whether new-onset AF occurred after operation. After 1 ∶1 propensity score matching (PSM), 38 people were in each group. The paired sample t-tests were performed on the five factors' concentrations of the matched AF group and the non-AF group respectively. If the concentration values did not conform to the normal distribution, the Wilcoxon signed rank sum test was performed. Conditional Logistic regression analysis was performed on the concentrations of the five indicators to explore the correlation between preoperative plasma concentrations of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, Hcy, ET-1 and postoperative new-onset AF after CABG. RESULTS: After a 1 ∶1 propensity score matching, the AF group was comparable to the non-AF group. The concentrations of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and Hcy in the AF group were higher than those in the non-AF group[(0.867±0.589) ng/L vs. (0.742±0.262) ng/L, 21.55 (6.50, 209.90) ng/L vs. 17.95 (3.60, 86.70) ng/L, 20.30 (5.70, 361.00) ng/L vs. 21.50 (7.50, 251.80) ng/L, (0.29±0.11) μmol/L vs. (0.27±0.09) μmol/L], but the differences were not statistically significant (P=0.165, P=0.891, P=0.817, P=0.285). After the conditional Logistic regression analysis, the above four variables were not predictors of new-onset AF after CABG. The concentrations of ET-1 in the matched AF group and non-AF group were (25.80±6.20) ng/L and (29.10±8.54) ng/L, respectively. The correlation between preoperative low plasma ET-1 concentration and the new-onset AF after CABG were statistically significant (P=0.003). After conditional Logistic regression analysis, preoperative plasma ET-1 concentration was correlated with postoperative new-onset AF after CABG (P=0.039, adjusted OR=0.637, 95%CI: 0.415-0.977). CONCLUSION The levels of preoperative plasma IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and Hcy in the patients with new-onset AF after CABG were higher than those in the patients without AF, but the difference was not statistically significant. Preoperative plasma low ET-1 concentration was statistically associated with new-onset AF after CABG.
Atrial Fibrillation/etiology* ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Humans ; Propensity Score

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of preoperative three-dimensional image reconstruction in the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). METHODS: We reviewed data on 40 patients (22 male cases, and 18 female cases) diagnosed with UPJO in Peking University First Hospital from May 2017 to April 2019. The median age was 26.5 years (IQR 23.25-38.75) years. There were 11 patients complicated with ectopic vessels, 14 patients with kidney stones, 3 patients with horseshoe kidney, and 6 patients with obstruction after pyeloplasty. All the patients underwent preoperative enhanced CT scan, and the CT data were reconstructed into three-dimensional image models. The obstruction position of ureteropelvic junction and the relationship between ureteropelvic junction and blood vessels and organs were observed by three-dimensional models to assist planning surgery. Thirty-seven patients underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty (including 3 cases combined with pyelolithotomy with flexible cystoscope, 1 case combined with pyelolithotomy by sun-style cystoscope, 1 case with laparoscopic ureter resection and anastomosis, 3 cases of laparoscopic pyeloplasty of horseshoe kidney), 2 patients underwent laparoscopic ventral onlay lingual mucosal graft ureteroplasty, and 1 patient underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty. RESULTS: Three-dimensional CT image clearly showed the relationship between the obstruction of ureteropelvic junction and blood vessels and organs after three-dimensional reconstruction. The type, diameter, position and direction of the ectopic vessels could be observed clearly before operation according to the three-dimensional reconstruction model, and the number, size, location and shape of renal calculi or other masses, the number of involved renal calyces and the anatomical distribution in the renal pelvis and calyces could be also evaluated preoperatively. After comprehensive analysis of the above information, individualized operation plans were performed on the patients, all the 40 cases were successfully completed with the surgery without any transfer to open surgery. The average operative time was (129.91±37.90) min (range: 75 to 273), the average blood loss was (48.1±78.0) mL (range: 10 to 400), the average hospitality was (5.04±1.99) d (range: 2 to 10), and the average postoperative drainage time was (3.8±1.4) d (range: 2 to 8). CONCLUSION The preoperative three-dimensional image reconstruction has a high clinical value in the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction, and it is of great help to assist surgery planning and is worthy of further clinical promotion and application.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Kidney Pelvis ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureteral Obstruction/diagnostic imaging* ; Urologic Surgical Procedures ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experiences and outcomes of 108 robot-assisted laparoscopic upper urinary tract reconstruction surgeries conducted by a single surgeon. METHODS: We consecutively and retrospectively reviewed 108 patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic upper urinary tract reconstruction surgeries by a single surgeon from November 2018 to January 2020. The patient demographics, perioperative variables, postoperative complications and follow-up data were recorded. Fifty-three modified dismembered pyeloplasties (MDP), 11 spiral flap pyeloplasties (SFP), 11 ure-teroureterostomies (UUT), 4 lingual mucosal onlay graft ureteroplasties (LMU), 5 appendiceal onlay flap ureteroplasties (AU), 11 ureteral reimplantations (UR), 6 Boari flap-Psoas hitch surgeries (BPS) and 7 ileal ureter replacements (IUR) were enrolled finally. The success was defined as the improvement in subjective pain levels, and the improvement in the degree of hydronephrosis at ultrasound. RESULTS: All the surgeries were successfully completed without open or laparoscopic conversion. The median operative time was 141 min (range: 74-368 min), median blood loss was 20 mL (range: 10-350 mL) and median hospital stay was 4 d (range: 3-19 d) in MDP group, with the success rate of 94.3%. The median operative time was 159 min (range: 110-222 min), median blood loss was 50 mL (range: 20-150 mL) and median hospital stay was 5 d (range: 3-8 d) in SFP group, with the success rate of 100%. The median operative time was 126 min (range: 76-160 d), median blood loss was 20 mL (range: 10-50 mL) and median hospital stay was 5 d (range: 4-9 d) in UUT group, with the success rate of 100%. The median operative time was 204 min (range: 154-250 min), median blood loss was 30 mL (range: 10-100 mL) and median hospital stay was 6 d (range: 4-7 d) in LMU group, with the success rate of 100%. The median operative time was 164 min (range: 135-211 min), median blood loss was 75 mL (range: 50-200 mL) and median hospital stay was 8.5 d (range: 6-12 d) in AU group, with the success rate of 100%. The median operative time was 149 min (range: 100-218 min), median blood loss was 20 mL (range: 10-50 mL) and median hospital stay was 7 d (range: 5-10 d) in UR group, with the success rate of 90.9%. The median operative time was 166 min (range: 137-205 min), median blood loss was 45 mL (range: 20-100 mL) and median hospital stay was 5 d (range: 4-41 d) in BPS group, with the success rate of 83.3%. The median operative time was 270 min (range: 227-335 min), median blood loss was 100 mL (range: 10-100 mL) and median hospital stay was 7 d (range: 5-26 d) in IUR group, with the success rate of 85.7%. CONCLUSIONS The surgeon performed and modified numerous complicated upper urinary tract reconstruction surgeries by the robotic platform, which facilitated the development of the standardized upper urinary tract reconstruction surgical technique.
Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotic Surgical Procedures ; Surgeons ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureter

Objectives:To describe the early and long-term survival of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting(OPCAB)and to analyze the impact and risk factors of peri-operative events on mortality and long-term survival in OPCAB patients aged over 75 years old. Methods:From January 2001 to December 2012,233 patients aged over 75 underwent OPCAB in our hospital, 173 cases (74.25%) were male,the average age was (77.1±2.3) years.The perioperative data was retrospectively collected.Binary Logistic regression was used to define the risk factors related to the perioperative events and mortality.Follow-up was performed regularly post-surgery. Univariate analysis and Cox regression model were used to find out factors affecting the long-term outcomes. Results:Fifteen out of 233 patients died during the perioperative period. Binary Logistic regression showed that preoperative arrhythmia (OR=6.767, P=0.002),IABP ( intraoperative, post-operative) (OR=4.292, P=0.040;OR=19.455, P＜0.001), ICU stay time (OR=1.500, P=0.001), mechanical ventilation time (OR=1.004, P=0.002), reintubation or tracheotomy (OR=30.000, P＜0.001), re-thoracotomy (OR=26.750, P＜0.001), postoperative cerebral infarction (OR=5.889, P=0.041) were risk factors of perioperative mortality. The remaining 218 patients were followed up for a mean of (92.84±45.52) months, 121 patients died during follow-up. The survival rate at l, 3, 5, 8 and 10 years was 90.99%, 87.55%, 85.31%, 68.93% and 56.70%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that sex(male), hypertension, preoperative arrhythmia, reintubation or tracheotomy were risk factors of the long-term mortality (P＜0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that reintubation or tracheotomy (HR 4.387, 95%CI=1.876-10.259,P＜0.010) was the independent risk factor affecting the long-term survival. Conclusions:Preoperative arrhythmia, IABP (intraoperative, postoperative), ICU stay time, mechanical ventilation time, reintubation and tracheotomy, re-thoracotomy, postoperative cerebral infarction are risk factors of perioperative mortality. Reintubation or tracheotomy is the independent risk factor affecting the long-term survival.Taken together, OPCAB in patients aged over 75 is associated with favorable perioperative and long-term outcome,and it serves a safe and effective operative strategy for coronary artery revascularization in patients aged over 75.

BACKGROUNDImproving islet graft revascularization has become a crucial task for prolonging islet graft survival. Endothelial cells (ECs) are the basis of new microvessels in an isolated islet, and EC coating has been demonstrated to improve the vascularization and survival of an islet. However, the traditional method of EC coating of islets has low efficiency in vitro. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a polyglycolic acid (PGA) scaffold on the efficiency of islet coating by ECs and the angiogenesis in the coated islet graft.

METHODSA PGA fibrous scaffold was used for EC coating of islet culture and was evaluated for its efficiency of EC coating on islets and islet graft angiogenesis.

RESULTSIn in vitro experiments, we found that apoptosis index of ECs-coating islet in PGA group (27% ± 8%) was significantly lower than that in control group (83% ± 20%, P < 0.05) after 7 days culture. Stimulation index was significantly greater in the PGA group than in the control group at day 7 after ECs-coating (2.07 ± 0.31 vs. 1.80 ± 0.23, P < 0.05). vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in the PGA group was significantly higher than the coating in the control group after 7 days culture (52.10 ± 13.50 ng/ml vs. 16.30 ± 8.10 ng/ml, P < 0.05). Because of a tight, circumvallated, adhesive and three-dimensional growth microenvironment, islet cultured in a PGA scaffold had higher coating efficiency showing stronger staining intensity of enzyme than those in the control group after 14 days of culture following ECs-coating. For in vivo study, PGA scaffold significantly prolonged the average survival time of EC-coated islet graft after transplantation compared with control group (15.30 ± 5.60 days vs. 8.30 ± 2.45 days, P < 0.05). The angiogenesis and area of survived grafts were more in the PGA group compared with the control group by measuring the mean microvessel density (8.60 ± 1.21/mm2 vs. 5.20 ± 0.87/mm2, P < 0.05). In addition, expression of VEGF and tyrosin-protein kinase receptor (Tie-2) gene increased in PGA scaffold group than that in control group by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis.

CONCLUSIONSThese results demonstrate that the efficiency of EC coating of islets was successfully increased by culturing ECs on a PGA scaffold. This method enhances the function, survival, and vascularization of isolated islets in vitro and in vivo.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Graft Survival ; drug effects ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Islets of Langerhans ; drug effects ; Islets of Langerhans Transplantation ; methods ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry

Objective] To investigate the relationship between hepatitis B virus( HBV) genotype and their mutations on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC ) . [ Methods ] A cohort study on patients with chronic HBV infection was followed up.HBV genotypes were identified by nested multiplex PCR and multiplex PCR.And HBV mutations in the basic core promoter region were sequencing by PCR amplification. [ Results] The patients infected with genotype B were followed up for an average of 8.52 years (IQR:6.67-10.75), of whom the incidence of HCC was 6.55/1 000 person-years.After follow up with an average of 8.87 years (IQR:6.85-11.33), the incidence of HCC was 11.63/1 000 person-years for the patients infected with genotype C, which were significantly higher than those infected with genotype B (P=0.006).In genotype B HBV infected patients, age (≥60 years), cirrhosis can in-crease the risk of HCC, and in genotype C patients, male, age (≥40 years), cirrhosis, C1653T, T1753V, A1762T/G1764A mutation as well.Interferon therapy can reduce the risk of HCC.In genotype C group, interferon treatment reduced HCC risk in patients carrying A1762T/G1764A mutation (HR=0.21, P=0.008) and in those without T1753V ( HR=0.08, P=0.012) and C1653T mutation ( HR=0.17, P=0.013). [Conclusion] HBV genotypes and mutation are closely associated with HCC.Patients infected with genotype C, carrying 1762T/G1764A mutation should be given priority of receiving antiviral treatments in order to prevent HCC;those carrying C1653T or T1753V mutation should be monitored closely to detect early HCC and receive timely surgical resection.

Objective To investigate a reasonable and effective internal fixation method for posterolateral fracture of the tibial plateau. Methods Specimens of the tibial plateau with posterolateral fracture made from 12 adult male cadavers were randomly and evenly divided into 3 groups, and fixed by anterior 6.5 mm lag screw, lateral 4.5 mm L-shape plate, posterior 3.5 mm T-shape plate, respectively. All the specimens were loaded in turn by stress of 250, 500, 750, 1 000 N, and the corresponding axial displacement and stress were measured. Results Under the same stress, the Y-axial displacement of the anterior lag screw group was the smallest, showing a significant difference with the lateral plate group and the posterior plate group, while there was no significant difference between the lateral plate group and the posterior plate group in the Y-axial displacement. The stresses on marked points in the anterior lag screw group were evenly distributed. Conclusions For fixation of isolated posterolateral fractures of the tibial plateau, the anterior 6.5 mm lag screw can effectively increase the axial stability and balance the stress distribution around the fracture block, indicating it is an effective method for mechanical fixation. The lateral plate has certain advantage in lateral stability control, while the posterior plate has certain value to reduction of the posterior tibia plateau fracture.